Abstract: A method is provided for preventing odometer fraud on a vehicle having a multiplex ring including a plurality of vehicle control modules in electrical communication with each other. The multiplex ring includes a cluster control module with an odometer display. The method includes: a) displaying an odometer mileage variable; b) periodically storing the displayed odometer mileage variable in a non-volatile memory location in the cluster control module; and c) periodically storing the displayed odometer mileage variable in a non-volatile memory location in at least one of the vehicle control modules other than the cluster control module, thereby increasing the level of difficulty of odometer tampering.

Abstract: A molded circuit board has an aperture wherein a contact member is flexibly carried by a living hinge. Conductor traces are plated upon the contact member, the living hinge, and the circuit board. The conductor traces form contacts on the contact member which are electrically connected to the conductor traces on the circuit board. A mating connector, having resilient contacts, is inserted into the aperture, folding back the contact member. The resilient contacts engage the contacts on the contact member. Another embodiment includes dual contact members hinged on opposing sides of an aperture. A further embodiment has a contact member which is folded up and inserted into a mating connector. In the above embodiments the contact members are molded with thin breakable portions of material holding the contact members in planes of the circuit boards. The present invention is formed from a polymeric material including one of polypropylene, polyethylene, and nylon.

Abstract: A tape deck, which incorporates a non-contacting take-up reel rotation sensing means and associated sensing circuit for enabling the capstan and take-up reel drive mechanism, includes a magnet which only rotates with the take-up reel when it is driven in the take-up direction. If the take-up reel changes direction, due to tape windup on the capstan, the magnet stops and the sensing circuit disables the drive mechanism to prevent excessive tape windup on the capstan.